Summary

Our Score:

Pros

Cons

Key Features

16.1 megapixel sensor

8x optical zoom

Touchscreen

Full HD video

Manufacturer: Panasonic

Review Price: £159.00

Available for around £170 in either black or silver, the Panasonic FS37 is a mid-range point-and-shoot compact. Equipped with a 16-megapixel CCD sensor and 8x optical zoom it’s a more modest alternative to Panasonic’s TZ range of dedicated travel compacts.

Recording images at a default aspect ratio of 4:3, the FS37 offers a maximum output of 4608x 3456 pixels at 16MP, with further options to capture at 10MP (3648x2736), 5MP (2560x1920), 3MP (2048x1536)and 0.3MP (640x480). Also offered are 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios, although because these are effectively cropped from the sensor, resolution is limited to 14MP (4608x2592) and 12MP (4608x2592) respectively. There is no option to record images as lossless Raw files.

While 4:3 is the default capture setting for still images, the rear LCD displays in 16:9, which not only better accommodates widescreen video but affords a little extra width at each side of the screen in which to position the touch-controls without interfering too much with composition.

While Intelligent Auto provides a reliable default setting for general point-and-shoot photography, the Normal Shooting mode offers a bit more in the way of flexibility. It’s still a fully automatic option, in that the camera selects the shutter speed and aperture, but you can adjust other settings such as ISO, white balance, autofocus and exposure compensation. In addition, you can also set an appropriate colour profile from a choice of Standard, Natural, Vivid, Black and White, Sepia, Cool and Warm.

There’s also a ‘Transform’ option that can be used as a kind of on-the-fly vanity tool to help make people appear thinner or fatter, while ‘Panorama Assist’ helps with the creation of multi-image panoramas by providing a translucent overlay of the previous image to help you line your shots up. Sadly, it won’t then stitch these images together for you - you’ll have to do that bit yourself.

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MrGodfrey

May 5, 2011, 6:27 pm

Can someone please explain to me why a touchscreen is necessary on a camera? Or why it would be anything but a hindrance?

Touchscreen makes a lot of sense on a smartphone or tablet because they will be running various different apps which requires different types of input at various points on the screen. A camera does not. The only benefit I see is being able to select an area for focus or metering, but this can be done with buttons or dials which makes for better handling. Meanwhile the touchscreen in many situations (e.g. when wearing gloves) will be a barrier to operation, where physical controls would be far better.

I wouldn't be disappointed that the touchscreen wasn't implemented properly here. I'm disappointed that touchscreens are used at all on compacts, at the expense of physical controls. I love using the touchscreen on my smartphone. The Kindle, for example, would be better with a touchscreen option. But manufacturers have got to think about usability rather than just leaping onto every tech bandwagon.

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